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I thought the same. More emphasis on Batman as a detective is always a plus .
“Batman, do not solve my murder.” Those are the words, written in blood, that the World’s Greatest Detective has found next to the body of a dead billionaire. Clues are few in this dead man’s home, save for a book with the alarming title "How to End The Universe." Now, armed only with questions, Batman must set off to England to solve a murder against the deceased’s wishes. Then, writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Mike Norton bring you a tale of Batman teaming up with one of the most brilliant deductive minds in Gotham: David Rosales, seventh grader?!
Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 is an instant classic and a must-read for all fans of the Dark Knight. "Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder is a perfect encapsulation of the character's appeal and versatility. The back-up story is an amusing palette cleanser and a perfect light work to balance the darkness of the first story. Read Full Review
Al Ewing is pinch-hitting for Tom Taylor on this annual, and it's not a surprise that his story plays well with Ewing's tendency for wild, mind-bending sci-fi. Read Full Review
Overall, Al Ewing did a really good job with the murder of Cody Morse. What little negatives I can highlight include the third act villain and his lackluster motivations and the disturbing implications of Batman's choices in the conclusion. Although, readers who hate prep-time, bat-god, sci-fi Batman stories may take issue with the title character's behavior. Art wise, the illustrations perfectly fit the style of action or narratives in each section. Also, I like the cover, but I have no idea what the cover has to do with this issue. The David Rosales story really put a cherry on an already satisfying read, making this one of my favorite annuals to check out. Read Full Review
Detective Comics Annual 2025 #1 is fun for multiple generations of Bat-reader. So grab a copy. Enjoy the little inbetween treat. And I'll see you guys back for the next Epic Detective Comics next month! Read Full Review
Al Ewing's first major DC swing with Detective Comics Annual 2025 is a maximalist showcase of Batman as a thinking, fighting force of nature. While it skimps on character depth, it overdelivers on scope, ambition, and pure comic-book spectacle. It's a wild ride that reminds us Batman stories canand sometimes shouldgo big. Read Full Review
Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 is a unique adventure for the Bat. What looks like an intriguing murder mystery soon becomes a globe-trotting tale for Bruce Wayne, throwing him into various circumstances. Read Full Review
Al should have a mainline Batman run one day. This proves he has a lot of potential. Loved this. The best non Absolute Batman story of 2025.
A wonderfully inventive locked room mystery that reads like Morrison doing Bronze Age Batman! I'm not a big Bat-fan, but based on this I would read the hell out of an Al Ewing run. My only complaint is that I'm not clear on the purpose of having a different artist for each act; while none of the art is bad, the artists' styles don't really mesh and they don't seem to have been chosen for their sections for any clear reason. The backup is suitably cute and charming.
Apparently Al Ewing knows DC lore and Batman as well as he knows Marvel lore and the Hulk. His first go round with the Bat is a stunning success. And those name drops of Conway and Milligan suggest his influences are the grounded Batman stories of the former and the weirdness of the latter.
The backup story probably sat in a drawer for years, but it's fun and smart, and between the two stories we have a welcome return to the humanistic, even likeable Batman DC so rarely features.
Awesome Is Comic Annual
Can we hope for Al Ewing after Matt fraction? This is one retro fun comic.
Would have been a 10 but art off in some spots.
I genuinely enjoyed this. This was Al Ewing's first step int writing DC Comics, since he's one of the few best modern comic book writers who haven't written a Batman story. And while he's not my favorite an I do get confused with his works, I gave this a chance and I'm glad I did. This is clearly Batman using his detective skills to solve a crime.
Plus, the back up story was so heart-warming and shows how Batman isn't an edge lord who punches people dressed as a bat.
This was the most boring story I've read in a long time. I really hope DC doesn't elevate AL Ewing to one of the main books as most of them seem to be in a good place and he'll just drag things down.
© 2025
